Maybe this needs to be a permanent Sticky . Give what you can, but it’s our only way to fight the problem right now.
As many of you know, we have a SERIOUS problem in the Tennessee, Cumberland and Mississippi River valleys with Asian carp, both Silver (the jumpers) and Bigheads. We are almost to the point of losing fisheries in KY and Barkley Lakes. Many rivers like the Wabash and Illinois are unfishable.
Finally the powers that be are starting to listen and have set up a fund called The Carp Harvest Fund. It is to raise money to go directly to commercial fishermen who are netting the carp. The market price has been so low they couldn't make money netting the Asian Carp. This fund will help them buy nets, fuel and directly subsidize the market price so they can profit from their labors. I have attended meeting for years about the carp but finally Fish and Wildlife agencies from several states as well as the federal government have started working together on this.
I know several commercial fishermen and even with this subsidy, they are not going to get rich catching Asian carp. This is back-breaking work but they will become the first, and only, line of defense against us losing our game fish.
Please consider donating. If I see this fund is not being used for its intended use, I will be the first to scream from the rooftops. Be sure to check the "Invasive Species" box.
Carp Harvest Fund
Last edited by Slab; 07-24-2018 at 07:38 PM.
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Fish on Line, halibut4me thanked you for this post
Maybe this needs to be a permanent Sticky . Give what you can, but it’s our only way to fight the problem right now.
PROUD MEMBER OF TEAM GEEZERauthorized by: Billbob and "G"CrappieFiend816 LIKED above post
That's what this post is for. Ed is going to put it up as a Sticky.
I just donated $100.00 to get this started.
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cevans, CrappieFiend816 LIKED above post
Maybe I am misreading this point under the "Goals of the Fund" section, but it almost sounds like they maybe are hoping for and end game of the private donations of the fund to eventually replace the current government subsidy to commercial fisherman. I think anything donated should be over and above that assistance not in lieu of it.
"5. If needed or in lieu of state assistance, provide $0.05-$0.10 per-pound subsidy to commercial fishermen."
no good answers for the commercial fishermen as they need 25 cents or more per pound to make a living and pay for expensive nets, gas, ice, and even labor. KY and your Corps has built a ice machine for them at KY Dam, but they still have to cover ground to get them to a commercial buyer. Here are some videos that are great to watch and educate you on some of the issues and problems of relying on commercial fishermen to help with elimination as right now, commercial fishing is the only way to slow and get rid of carp.
https://www.waroncarp.com/videos/
PROUD MEMBER OF TEAM GEEZERauthorized by: Billbob and "G"Woodworker42 LIKED above postFish on Line thanked you for this post
I think you misunderstood my point. I am all for supporting our commercial fisherman in this fight. I just would hate to see the fund used as a lateral move dollars in subsidies instead of actually increasing the monies paid to them. That part from the funds web site I quoted which mentioned "in lieu of state assistance" just raised some question in my mind about that.
Just finished watching Carp Wars tournament video. 100,000 lbs of carp caught in 2 days. Why can't all these brilliant politicians get with Hollywood, and start a reality/ tournament series? Seems like it would be a win for everybody. $20,000.00 in prize money is nothing for modern game shows these days. Rednecks, water , fish, and prize money? I'm in . With shows like Ax men , gold rush and others succeeding, I don't understand why this hasn't been tapped into .
That's correct . But it wasn't a tournament. How could commercial tournament Fishing be less attractive to cable tv than some of the stupid stuff that's on there?? I looks like they could make money, and serve a great purpose. They pull 50 tons of carp out in 2 days , that would have to help after a while .
Cphill LIKED above post
The bad thing is we need 25 to 40 tons pulled out daily to show a dent in them now. They use special nets that aren't cheap. There is no real income from them like cats until the processing plants start paying more. As long as they can get them cheap/free and rake in the money they are fine with it. But, not much of a market for them here.
They want to do some tournaments, open it up, commercial, sports and non license. Have a pay out for biggest load per group, biggest fish for sportsman and non license. Get those lake/river runners involved that don't want them in their boats.
For those of use that are to far away from processing plants and only get a few, set up collection centers that will pay you so much per pound. I've seen a bunch snagged at Butla spillway and left on the bank, no telling how many more. Collection centers set up to pay you, freeze the fish and a weekly route to pick the up with collector making some money for his time would help.
Another idea, you don't need a license to fish or for having tackle in your boat as long as you only keep the carp. Guess the only thing needed would be nets and coolers.
rebranger LIKED above post